Page 10 of Christmas Wedding
“If you want your girlfriend back in one piece, you’ll do what I tell you. Try to be a good listener, Sawyer. I want a face-to-face with little Mrs. Piper. I want to tell her all about how she destroyed my fucking life. Then, she is going to go with me to the bank to withdraw five million dollars to pay me back for the years that I was in prison. She owes me at least that much—probably more, but I’ll take five million as a start.”
“Not going to happen, asshole. You aren’t getting anywhere near Piper. She owes you nothing. You and your scumbag brothers took her parents from her—she was just a little girl. I’m going to find you and I will tear you apart.” Sawyer knew that he was making Joe angry, and that could end badly for Lorna. He needed to keep Joe on the phone to try to figure out his location.
“If that’s the way you want to play this, Sawyer, I’m game. I’m not sure how much poor Lorna will be able to take. Maybe after I spend some special alone time with your woman, she’ll change her mind about you. You have one hour to call Lorna’s phone and give me the time and place for my meeting with Piper. Otherwise, I like to get a little rough with my women. DoesLorna like it rough?” Sawyer felt helpless. He could hear Lorna crying in the background and imagined that she was terrified. The thought of Joe touching her made Sawyer sick.
“Let me talk to her, Joe. Let me hear that Lorna is all right, and I’ll contact Piper with your demands.” Sawyer just wanted to hear Lorna’s voice. He would do anything to keep her and their baby safe. His phone chimed with a text. Joe sent a picture of Lorna tied to a kitchen chair with duct tape over her mouth. Her face was bruised, and she looked terrified. Joe was going to pay for every mark on Lorna’s body.
“You have your proof that Lorna is alive, for now. You give Piper a call and get things rolling. I’ll talk to you in one hour.” Joe ended the call. Sawyer was torn about what he should do. On one hand, Piper was his assignment, and he needed to protect her. On the other hand, Lorna was the love of his life and was carrying his baby. He would do anything to keep her safe, but at what cost? He looked at the picture, trying to find some clue as to where she was being held captive. Nothing looked familiar, though. He had no choice. He needed to call Tag and Piper.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Tag and Piper showed up twenty minutes later. Sawyer filled them both in, and Piper was beside herself with worry. He hated that he didn’t keep better tabs on Joe’s whereabouts. Last he heard, Joe went back to New York. When his friend lost Joe’s trail, he should have been more diligent in looking for him, but he was so caught up with Lorna, he didn’t do his job.
“I’m so sorry, guys. This is all my fault; I should have tracked Joe,” Sawyer whispered. Tag wrapped Piper in his arms, trying to calm her.
“No, Sawyer, there was nothing else you could have done. Joe wanted to get to me, and when he couldn’t, he went after Lorna. I just don’t understand why he thinks I owe him. If anything, he and his brothers owe me.” Piper barked out a laugh. “Ironic, right?” she asked.
“Did he let you talk to Lorna?” Tag asked. He looked as worried as Sawyer felt. He didn’t want to show Piper the picture of her aunt tied to a chair with duct tape over her mouth.
“Yeah, he sent me a picture,” Sawyer admitted.
“I need to see it,” Piper sobbed.
“Piper, it’s not a picture that you should see. Her face is bruised, and she is tied up and gagged.” Sawyer was hoping that his description would change her mind, but she was as stubborn as Lorna. “Please, Sawyer. I can handle seeing the picture. I’m stronger than you both give me credit for. Maybe I will see something in it that will tell us where she is being held.” Sawyer hesitated, looking to Tag for a little guidance on what he should do. Tag gave a curt nod, and Sawyer handed Piper his phone with Lorna’s picture on the screen. He didn’t miss the way her hand shook as she took his cell. She gasped, covering her mouth to hide her sob.
“Oh God,” she whispered. “This is Maddie’s kitchen. I see Dusty in the pet carrier—here in the corner.” She pointed out the cat, and Sawyer’s heart raced with excitement. He wanted to run down the block and storm into Maddie’s house, but he knew that they needed a better plan than that. Hopefully, one that wouldn’t involve getting Lorna killed. He couldn’t let that happen.
“I’m going to call this in. I can have men on the scene in less than ten minutes.” Sawyer didn’t know what else to do.
“No! You can’t just let the whole Sheriff’s Department storm in there and possibly get Lorna killed. What if Joe has a gun and he kills Lorna before your guys can get to him? I won’t risk her life.” Piper stopped crying, her despair giving way to anger.
“What do you propose I do then?” Sawyer knew that he was too involved to rationally decide what the plan should be.
“I’m going to go to Maddie’s and meet with Joe,” Piper said. “We can use the element of surprise since we know where he is. I’ll simply show up at the door and listen to his demands. You and Tag will go in through the back door and get Lorna out of there.” Sawyer could see Piper’s plan going sideways fast.
“Hell no! There is no fucking way that I’m going to let you go anywhere near that fucker.” Tag pulled Piper back into his hold.
“It’s the only way, Tag. I won’t let Lorna die. She’s too important to me.”
“She’s important to us all, Piper,” Sawyer barked. “She is everything to me. She’s going to be my wife and the mother of my child. Do you honestly think I would let anything happen to her? But sending you in and putting you in harm’s way isn’t the answer. Lorna would never forgive me if I used you to save her.”
“What do you mean by the mother of your child?” Piper eyed Sawyer suspiciously.
“We were waiting to tell you until after the New Year. She’s pregnant. We found out the day before Thanksgiving, but wanted to keep it to ourselves for a bit. She insisted that you and Tag should enjoy your first holiday season together.” Piper shook her head.
“That’s silly! Lorna being a mom would be the best Christmas gift she could give me. I’ve always wanted a little brother or sister.” She smiled up at Sawyer. “Welcome to the family!” She rushed over to hug him. “Now, let’s go get the mama-to-be back so we can celebrate.” Sawyer gave a curt nod, not feeling much like celebrating. When he had Lorna safely back in his arms, he would celebrate plenty.
“I have a plan,” Tag said with a smile. “I think it just might work.”
“Go on,” Piper coaxed.
“Well, how about you call Joe back. He gave you an hour, right?” Tag asked, and Sawyer eagerly nodded.
“Okay, well, we give old Joe what he wants. We set up a meeting with Piper. But she won’t be there. I’m betting that Joe thinks that we don’t know where he’s holding Lorna. I’m also betting that he won’t bring Lorna to his meeting with Pipe. She would just slow him down. We’ll set up the meeting at our cabin—it’s out of the way and secluded. Joe will go up there and walk into our trap. You can have your guys ready to close in when hegoes into the cabin. That’s where I’ll be waiting. Piper can stay here, and you can get into Maddie’s house while we are busy with Joe. You get Lorna, and Joe goes back to prison.” Sawyer took a few minutes to think through the plan. It sounded good—anything was better than sending in the cavalry and possibly putting Lorna in even more danger. But if Joe took Lorna along for the ride, it wouldn’t work.
“Fine, I’ll call the office and get everyone in place. Then I’ll call Joe and set up the meeting. The only change I’d make is that Piper stays with one of us. I think she should stick by me, that way you can handle things up at the cabin,” Sawyer said.
“Please just keep Lorna and the baby safe. I can’t lose her, too.” Piper seemed just as lost as Sawyer felt. This plan had to work because he couldn’t imagine his life without Lorna and their baby.
